jamesclavell.noblehouse-第277部分

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nder　price　at　42　even　though　it　was　actually　worth　63；500。
　〃Paul；〃　Richard　Kwang　said　importantly。　〃The　Ho…Pak's　in　better　shape　th…　〃
　〃Kindly　shut　up　and　listen；〃　Havergill　said　overriding　him。　〃The　time　has　e　to　make　a　serious　decision　…　for　you；　not　us。　You　can　go　under　on　Monday　with　nothing。　。。。　I　understand　trading's　opening　on　your　stock　first　thing。〃
　〃But　Sir　Luis　assured　me　th…　〃
　〃I　heard　it　was　open　for　trading；　so　by　Monday　night　you'll　have　no　bank；　no　stock；　no　horses；　no　dollymoney　to　pay　for　mink　coats　for　Venus　P…　〃
　〃Eh？〃　Richard　Kwang　blanched；　aware　his　wife　was　standing　not　twenty　paces　away；　lugubriously　watching　them。　〃What　mink　coat？〃
　Havergill　sighed。　〃All　right；　if　you're　not　interested。〃　He　turned　away　but　the　banker　caught　him　by　the　arm。
　〃5　cents　is　ridiculous。　80　is　nearer　what　I　can　get　on　the　open　mar…　〃
　〃Perhaps　I　can　go　to　7。〃
　〃7？〃　The　banker　began　cursing；　more　to　give　himself　time　to　think　than　anything。　〃I'll　agree　to　a　merger。　A　seat　on　the　bank's　board　for　ten　years　at　a　salary　of　f…　〃
　〃For　five　years；　provided　you　give　me　your　notarized　resignation；　undated；　in　advance；　that　you　always　vote　exactly　as　I　wish　and　at　a　salary　equal　to　other　directors。〃
　〃No　resignation　in　adv…　〃
　〃Then　so　sorry　no　deal。〃
　〃I　agree　to　that　clause；〃　Richard　Kwang　said　grandly。　〃Now　as　to　money。　I　th…　〃
　〃No。　As　to　money；　so　sorry；　Richard；　I　don't　want　to　enter　into　a　protracted　negotiation。　The　governor；　the　tai…pan　and　I　agree　we　should　rescue　the　Ho…Pak。　It　is　decided。　I　will　see　you　retain　face。　We　guarantee　to　keep　the　takeover　price　secret　and　are　quite　prepared　to　call　it　a　merger　…　oh　by　the　way；　I　want　to　make　the　announcement　at　5：00　p。m。；　just　after　the　seventh　race。　Or　not　at　all。〃　Havergill's　face　was　grim；　but　inside　he　was　filled　with　glee。　If　it　hadn't　been　for　Dunross's　announcement　and　the　way　it　was　being　received　he　would　have　never　considered　doing　the　same。　That　bugger's　quite　right！　It　is　time　to　be　innovative　and　who　better　than　us？　It'll　stop　Southerby　in　his　tracks　and　make　us　equal　to　Blacs　at　long　last。　With　Struan's　in　our　pocket　next　week；　by　next　year　。。。
　〃57　cents　and　that's　a　steal；〃　Kwang　said。
　〃I'll　go　to　10　cents。〃
　Richard　Kwang　wheedled　and　twisted　and　almost　wept　and　inside　he　was　ecstatic　with　the　chance　of　the　bail…out。　Dew　neh　loh　moh；　he　wanted　to　shout；　a　few　minutes　ago　I　wouldn't　be　able　to　pay　for　Butterscotch　Lass's　feed　next　week　let　alone　the　diamond　ring　and　now　I'm　worth　at　least　3l/2　million　U。S。　and　with　judicious　manipulation　much　more。　〃30　by　all　the　gods！〃
　〃11。〃
　〃I'll　have　to　mit　suicide；〃　he　wailed。　〃My　wife　will　mit　suicide；　my　children　will　。。。〃
　〃Your　pardon；　Lord；〃　his　Chinese　trainer　said　in　Cantonese；　ing　up　to　him。　〃The　race's　put　back　ten　minutes。　Are　there　any　instructions　you　wa…　〃
　〃Can't　you　see　I'm　busy；　toad…belly！　Go　away！〃　Richard　Kwang　hissed　in　Cantonese　with　more　obscenities；　then　said　to　Havergill；　a　final　abject　plea；　〃30；　Mr。　Havergill；　and　you'll　have　saved　a　poor　man　and　his　fam…　〃
　〃18　and　that's　final！〃
　〃25　and　it's　a　deal。〃
　〃My　dear　fellow；　so　sorry　but　I　must　place　a　bet。　18。　Yes　or　no？〃
　Richard　Kwang　kept　up　a　pathetic　patter　but　he　was　estimating　his　chances。　He　had　seen　the　flash　of　irritation　on　his　opponent's　face。　Dirty　lump　of　dogmeat！　Is　now　the　time　to　close？　Between　now　and　five　o'clock　this　leper　dung　could　change　his　mind。　If　the　tai…pan's　got　all　this　new　financing　perhaps　I　could　。。。　No；　no　chance。　18's　three　times　as　good　as　the　opening　bid！　It's　clear　you　are　a　clever　fellow　and　a　good　negotiator；　he　chortled　to　himself。　Has　the　time　e　to　close？
　He　thought　of　Venus　Poon；　how　she　had　abused　his　expensive　gift　and　deliberately　brushed　her　exquisite　breasts　against　Four　Fingers's　arm；　and　tears　of　rage　welled　from　his　eyes。
　〃Oh　oh　oh；〃　he　said　in　an　abject　whisper；　delighted　that　his　stratagem　to　produce　real　tears　had　worked　so　well。　〃20；　by　all　the　gods；　and　I'm　your　slave　forever。〃
　〃Good；〃　Havergill　said；　very　contentedly。　〃e　to　my　box　at　quarter　to　five。　I'll　have　a　provisional　letter　of　agreement　ready　for　signature　…　and　your　undated　resignation。　At　five　we'll　announce　the　merger；　and　Richard；　until　that　time　not　a　whisper！　If　the　news　leaks；　the　deal　is　off。〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　Havergill　nodded　and　left　and　Richard　Kwang　walked　back　to　his　wife。
　〃What's　going　on？〃
　〃Quiet！〃　he　hissed。　〃I've　agreed　to　a　merger　with　the　Victoria。〃
　〃At　what　price　for　our　holdings？〃
　He　lowered　his　voice　even　more。　〃20　cents　on　the；　er；　official　book　value。〃
　Glee　lit　her　eyes。　〃Ayeeyah！〃　she　said　and　quickly　dropped　her　gaze　for　safety。　〃You　did　very　well。〃
　〃Of　course。　And　a　directorship　for　five　years　an…　〃
　〃Eeee；　our　face　will　be　huge！〃
　〃Yes。　Now　listen；　we've　got　until　five　today　to　make　some　private　deals　on　Ho…Pak　stock。　We　must　buy　in　today　…　at　fire…sale　prices　before　every　dogmeat　gambler　steals　our　rightful　profits　from　us。　We　can't　do　it　ourselves　or　others'll　instantly　suspect。　Who　can　we　use？〃
　She　thought　for　a　moment。　Again　her　eyes　gleamed。　〃Profitable　Choy。　Give　him　7　percent　of　anything　he　makes　for　us。〃
　〃I'll　offer　5　to　begin　with；　perhaps　I　can　settle　for　61/2　percent！　Excellent！　And　I'll　also　use　Smiler　Ching；　he's　a　pauper　now。　He　lost　everything。　Between　the　two　of　them　。。。　I'll　meet　you　back　at　the　box。〃　Importantly　he　turned　away　and　went　to　his　trainer　and　carefully　kicked　him　in　the　shin。　〃Oh　so　sorry；〃　he　said　for　the　benefit　of　those　nearby　who　might　have　seen　him；　then　hissed；　〃Don't　interrupt　me　when　I'm　busy；　you　cheating　lump　of　dogmeat　turd！　And　if　you　cheat　me　like　you　cheated　Big　Belly　Tok　I'll　…　〃
　〃But　I　told　you　about　that；　Lord；〃　the　man　said　sourly。　〃He　knew　about　it　too！　Wasn't　it　his　idea？　Didn't　you　both　make　a　fortune？〃
　〃Oh　ko；　if　my　horse　doesn't　win　this　race　I'll　ask　my　Uncle　Four　Fingers　to　send　his　street　fighters　and　mash　your　Heavenly　Orbs！〃
　A　sprinkle　of　rain　swept　the　paddock　and　they　all　looked　anxiously　at　the　sky。　In　the　stands　and　on　the　balconies　above；　everyone　was　equally　anxious。　The　shower　turned　into　a　slight　drizzle　and　on　the　members'　balcony　Orlanda　quivered；　tense　with　excitement。　〃Oh　Linc；　I'm　going　to　bet　now。〃
　〃You're　sure？〃　he　asked　with　a　laugh　for　she　had　been　agonizing　over　her　decision　all　afternoon；　first　Pilot　Fish　then　Noble　Star；　then　a　hot　tip；　the　outsider　Winning　Billy；　and　back　to　Butterscotch　Lass　again。　The　odds　were　even　on　Butterscotch　Lass；　3　to　1　on　both　Pilot　Fish　and　Noble　Star　…　the　moment　Travkin　was　announced　the　money　started　pouring　on　…　6　to　1　on　Golden　Lady；　the　rest　hardly　in　the　running。　The　total　amount　so　far　at　risk　was　a　staggering　4；700；000　HK。　〃How　much　are　you　going　to　bet？〃
　She　shut　her　eyes　and　said　in　a　rush；　〃All　my　winnings　and　an　extra　。。。　an　extra　100！　Won't　be　a　moment；　Linc！〃
　〃Good　luck。　I'll　see　you　after　the　race。〃
　〃Oh　yes；　sorry；　in　the　excitement　I　forgot。　Have　fun！〃　She　gave　him　a　glorious　smile　and　rushed　off　before　he　could　ask　her　what　she　was　betting。　He　had　already　bet。　This　race　was　a　quinella；　as　well　as　the　second　leg　of　the　double　quinella。　10；000　HK　on　any　bination　of　Pilot　Fish　and　Butterscotch　Lass。　That　should　do　it；　he　thought；　his　own　excitement　growing。
　He　left　the　balcony　and　weaved　through　the　tables　heading　for　the　elevators　that　would　take　him　back　upstairs。　Many　people　watched　him；　some　greeted　him；　most　envious　of　the　little　badges　fluttering　in　his　lapel。
　〃Hi；　Linc！〃
　〃Oh　hello；〃　he　said　to　Biltzmann　who　had　intercepted　him。　〃How's　it　going？〃
　〃You　heard　about　the　foulup？　Of　course；　you　were　there！〃　Biltzmann　said。　〃Say；　Linc；　you　got　a　moment？〃
　〃Sure。〃　Bartlett　followed　him　down　the　corridor；　conscious　of　the　curious　gazes　of　passersby。
　〃Listen；〃　Biltzmann　said　when　they　reached　a　quiet　corner；　〃you'd　better　watch　yourself　with　these　limey　bastards。　We　sure　as　hell　had　a　deal　with　General　Stores。〃
　〃You　going　to　rebid？〃　Bartlett　asked。
　〃That's　up　to　head　office；　but　me；　hell；　me　I'd　let　this　whole　goddamn　Island　drown。〃
　Bartlett　did　not　reply；　aware　of　glances　in　their　direction。
　〃Say；　Linc！〃　Biltzmann　dropped　his　voice　and　bent　closer　with　a　t